Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (23: 27-32) in which Jesus says, “Alas for you Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You, who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption”.

Fr Paul says, today, in this Gospel we hear the last two of the Seven Woes.  We have the confronting reference to whitewashed tombs, graves full of bones and every kind of corruption. Hypocrisy is described to us as a deadly trait and, Fr Paul says, it also is saying to us that no external veneer of religiosity or goodness can hide it from the eyes of God.

God knows our honest efforts to be faithful.

Today for our reflection, Fr Paul says we might acknowledge that we are hypocrites and we are also disciples, that we are sinners and we are saints, and just remind ourselves that God knows it all… and loves us still.